In past research conducted in replicated, several-acre plots of Michigan apples, trap-catch disruption with Microsprayer-released codlemone has been consistently low (<70%) compared to the disruption of some other tortricid moths (>95%). Currently underway are field tests of the hypothesis that codling moth disruption using Microsprayer technology will be positively correlated with foliar density and amount of shade in the canopy. We reason that shade will reduce known photodegradation of codlemone and dense foliage will help retain pheromone in the crop by increased adsorption. To date, trap catch disruption for codling moth is ca. 90% in plots of large untrimmed apple trees (< 10% light penetrance)compared to 60-80% in well managed commercial blocks (50% or greater penetrance). Thus, it appears that disruption outcomes for the high-dosage, low- density release strategy can be influenced by crop architecture when applied to pests having lower molecular weight and chemically labile pheromones.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Cydia pomonella (codling moth)
Keywords: Behavioral control
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA